FIRST REPORT, 9:54 AM: Again this year, the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s “wheel” parade float is what runners and walkers in the Float Dodger 5K are “dodging” at California/Alaska. The race, presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank, precedes the West Seattle Grand Parade, which is just about an hour away. Development director Robbin and volunteer Michelle were at Hiawatha selling $5 tickets to the WSFB’s raffle of Taste of West Seattle (September 25!) tickets:

More than 550 participants were registered as of pre-5K:

(Photos from here by Dave Gershgorn for WSB unless otherwise credited)

My Team Triumph started the race, as has become a tradition.

As for the first finishers – we’ll add coverage later – participants will be off the parade route in time for the parade’s start with SPD motorcycles around 10:45! And if you’re in or near Admiral, West Seattle Runner is hosting a beverage garden and parade-watch party to raise even more for WSFB; you can buy raffle tickets there too.

ADDED 3:46 PM: The results are here. First finisher, timed at 16:10, was 22-year-old Jonathan Grothe:

Next was 17-year-old Mason Murison, timed at 17:04:

First female finisher was 43-year-old Megan Heuer, timed at 19:02:

Second female finisher was 22-year-old Adeline Roza, timed at 19:35:

One more Float Dodger 5K note: There was a moment of silence before the race for Christi Rohlena, sister of WS Runner co-proprietor Lori McConnell; she died in a car crash this past February, Lori explained when we stopped by the shop post-parade to find out more. Lori said many family members were visiting from out of town and showed us the special race bibs they had made in Christi’s memory: